Summary

  • McClean double gives Republic victory

  • Long also on target for visitors

  • Italy grab late winner at Macedonia

  • Wales hang on to draw with Georgia

  • Spain win at Albania

  1. 'Dark days'published at 16:35 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    Wales v Georgia (17:00 BST)

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

    Chris ColemanImage source, Getty Images

    Chris Coleman was part of the Wales starting 11 for one of their three defeats at the hands of Georgia, a 5-0 thrashing in Tbilisi in 1994.

    "They were dark days. The game was my lowest moment in a Wales shirt," he said.

    "But that is not a problem for this generation of players. Under-estimating the opposition was more a problem of my generation.

    "I tell my players what I think my group did wrong and what we missed out and what they can do to be better than us."

  2. Get involved #bbcfootballpublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    How would you make international qualifiers more exciting?

    Phil Cordner: Think there should be as such a world league so every international means something. You could then have promotion and relegation.  

    Dan Panda: Would not have it during the club season, and then have 3-4 weeks of it at the end of the season.  

    Jon: Play it on a 20 degree sloping angled pitch, make the goals 15% bigger.

  3. Postpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    Wales v Georgia (17:00 BST)

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  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    #bbcfootball

    Patrick Shaw: Nothing will make these boring qualifying games more interesting for me. Just hold them out of season please.  

  5. Georgia then and nowpublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    Wales v Georgia (17:00 BST)

    Georgi KinkladzeImage source, Getty Images

    The Premier League is not unfamiliar with footballers from Georgia. Newcastle fans will remember midfielder Temuri Ketsbaia, while they'll be trying to forget Zurab Khizanishvili, who spent time on loan there.

    Mikheil Kavelashvili scored in the derby for Manchester City against Manchester United - on his debut - while team-mate Georgi Kinkladze was the best of the lot, a dimunitive, sweet left-footed midfielder. If you don't know about him, search for the goal he scored against Southampton.

    The class of 2016? Not much to write home about. Only Empoli striker Levan Mchedlidze in Serie A plays in one of the top European leagues.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    #bbcfootball or 81111

    Iceland supporterImage source, Getty Images

    The international break is not everyone's cup of tea. Fans miss watching their domestic clubs in action, while manager wait to see if their players come back in full fitness or not.

    Some even say there is little excitement in international football, as the bigger nations come up against the smaller ones who rarely cause a surprise result.

    So, put yourself in Fifa presidnt Gianni Infantino's shoes, what would you do to add some razzmatazz when countries face each other? How would you get fans on the edge of their seats?

    Send suggestions to #bbcfootball, external or text in on 81111 (UK only). Remember to put names on texts.

  7. Postpublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    Wales v Georgia (17:00 BST)

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  8. Allen a 'big miss' for Walespublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    Wales v Georgia (17:00 BST)

    John Hartson
    Ex-Wales striker on Football Focus

    Being without Joe Allen is a big blow. 

    He is comfortable on the ball, manipulates situations, works hard, breaks things down, anticipates where the ball is going to drop and has turned into a real fine player. 

    I think he will be a big miss, he is a huge player for Wales. 

    It gives someone else an opportunity. Dave Edwards may come in or Chris (Coleman) may play two up front with Gareth Bale on the left. 

    It will be interesting to see how he sets up.

  9. Welsh Pirlo ruled outpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    Wales v Georgia (17:00 BST)

    Joe AllenImage source, Rex Features

    Wales managed to keep their big names fit when reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016 in the summer, but have a couple of issues to deal with today.

    Stoke midfielder Joe Allen misses out after suffering a hamstring injury against Austria, having scored in the 2-2 draw.

    They are already without Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who also has a hamstring problem.

    Interesting to see how they cope without those two influential figures in the middle of the park.

  10. Team newspublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    Wales v Georgia (17:00 BST)

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

    Wales make one change from Thursday’s 2-2 draw in Austria, with David Edwards replacing injured midfielder Joe Allen.

    Georgia, meanwhile, are unchanged from their 1-0 defeat against the Republic of Ireland.

    Wales XI (5-3-2): Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Davies, Taylor; Edwards, Ledley, King; Bale Vokes.

    Georgia XI (4-2-3-1): Loria; Kakabadze, Kashia, Kverkvelia, Navalovski; Daushvili, Gvilia; Ananidze, Kaziashvili, Okriashvili; Mchedlidze.

  11. Georgians and Dragonspublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 9 October 2016

    Wales v Georgia (17:00 BST)

    Wales celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    In years gone by, Wales would have looked at this fixture and thought, 'hmm, tricky'.

    And they would have been right to feel that way. Wales' record v Georgia? Played three, lost three.

    But this is a new Wales, a team to be feared, a team full of confidence, a team #TogetherStronger.

    Surely, the team ranked 10 in the world will have too much for the opponents who lie 127 places below them...won't they?